Eskinazi and Yadav pile on the agony for Durham

MIDDLESEX got off the mark in their Royal London Cup campaign by easing past Durham courtesy of a career-best 146 from Stephen Eskinazi and a five-wicket haul from Umesh Yadav at Seat Unique Riverside.

Yadav starred with the ball for the visitors claiming figures of 5-33, dismantling the Durham top order before returning to dismiss the hosts for 268 after Michael Jones had led a recovery with his maiden List A ton.

Middlesex were clinical with the bat led by Eskinazi’s unbeaten ton at the top of the order, controlling the chase with support from Mark Stoneman and Sam Robson, who each made half-centuries.

Two stands of more than 100 highlighted the ease of the Middlesex victory, knocking off the target with 50 balls to spare.

Durham would have been hopeful for a bright start to bounce back from their thrashing by

Surrey on Thursday, winning the toss and electing to bat in the sunshine at the Riverside.

However, Graham Clark was cleaned up by Yadav from the second ball of the innings.

Yadav then prised out Scott Borthwick lbw before Nic Maddinson was dismissed in a bizarre manner as the ball clipped the back of his bat from an attempted pull and ended up in the grasp of Sam Robson at first slip.

After being reduced to 16-3Durham required a stand from Alex Lees and Michael Jones to rebuild the innings.

Lees responded with a fine knock off 66. The left-hander was measured his defence before settling into a rhythm, bringing up his half-century with a deft reverse-sweep from 73 balls.

Lees and Jones extended their partnership to 109 before the England Test opener fell lbw6.

Jones notched a deserved century from 107 deliveries and added further blows in a partnership with 89 with Luke Doneathy.

However, hopes of a score of

300 were dashed - Hollman removed Jones for 119 before Yadav cleaned up the tail to bowl out the home side for 268.

The visitors eased to 50 within 38 balls, Stoneman dropped ehund the stumps and then easing his way to his half-century and joined by Eskinazi.

Ollie Gibson eventually dismissed Stoneman for 62 and ending the partnership for 132 but, Eskinazi and Sam Robson punished the youthful Durham attack to all parts in the closing overs.